Motorcycle event to help boy, 13, with cancer in leg

For one New Jersey 13-year-old fighting cancer since January, support has come from a close-knit family, and soon, a group of strangers in the Poconos.

JENNA EBERSOLE

For one New Jersey 13-year-old fighting cancer since January, support has come from a close-knit family, and soon, a group of strangers in the Poconos.

Judy Correa is the aunt of Jovan Caraballo, who was diagnosed with osteosarcoma cancer in January. She and her husband are part of the Poconos chapter of the Latin American Motorcycle Association, which is holding a fundraiser to help with the family's medical bills.

The event is from noon to 9 p.m. Saturday with a $10 donation per bike and barbecue at the Veterans of Foreign Wars Post 3448 at 444 Sterling Road in Tobyhanna.

Correa said Caraballo is a football player and skater who has always been active. Doctors tested a bump in his left leg in January and discovered a cancerous tumor. Chemotherapy began soon afterward to treat the bone cancer before surgery in the spring removed a section of his bone.

Now, because Caraballo's mother does not own a car, Correa and her husband of Tamiment have coordinated their vacation and sick time with her to help make the drive to appointments and rehab after the surgery.

"Everything goes on the back burner," Correa said. "It's been a constant family effort to get it done."

Although he has often been frustrated and fatigued by the slow process of rehab, Caraballo's mindset has been to take each day as it comes.

"He was like, 'No crying,'" Correa said her nephew told her after the diagnosis. "'We've just got to do what we need to do.'"

Caraballo is working to walk again and has lost his hair in the treatments. But Correa said the cancer has been contained and her nephew has kept up with school through tutoring.

The goal is to have him walking into school in the fall, in remission, in time for his last chemotherapy appointment and his 14th birthday.

Correa said when the biker group heard about the struggles, they wanted to do something.

Juan Molina, the chapter's business manager, said the event will be the first cancer run for the group. Molina said the association plans to make Caraballo an honorary member.

"We try to give back to the community," he said. "That's what we're all about."

If Caraballo feels well, he also plans to come and get a bike ride himself Saturday with one of the members.

"The goal is to get into his head: you have no limitations," Correa said.

Contact Judy Correa for information on how to help the family at urbonbon@gmail.com.